Lifeline allows long-running CHB social services to survive

Kath Curran (left), Rachel Mackay and Colleen Edwards are happy at the outcome. Photo / Warren Buckland

Otane-based Pleroma Social Services has been thrown a lifeline by the Napier Family Centre.

Rather than close its doors due to a lack of funding after 39 years of helping people in CHB, Pleroma has announced the Napier Family Centre took over its governance and day-to-day management as of July 1.

Pleroma manager Rachel Mackay said the move was needed to ensure the continuation of its counselling and social-work services.

"This is an exciting new step for Pleroma Social Services," she said.

"It means that we can continue providing services with the backing of a larger, more resourced organisation.

"It is a great opportunity for the Central Hawke's Bay community."

In explaining the funding problems, Ms Mackay said Pleroma had to raise $70,000-$90,000 over and above its government funding every year just to keep the doors open.

"It is a difficult time to be a community social service due to the increasing demands on community funders and donors, increased administrative requirements and effectively shrinking government contributions."

To ensure its survival, Ms Mackay said Pleroma's board had been working to find a way for the organisation to continue to operate.

"After careful consideration an agreement was reached with the Napier Family Centre to provide governance and the day-to-day management of Pleroma Social Services from the first of July.

"This arrangement means that Pleroma Social Services will be able to continue to provide the same high-quality counselling and support services for the foreseeable future."

Napier Family Centre chief executive Kath Curran said her organisation was committed to continuing Pleroma's programmes and services.

"Pleroma Social Services provides this community's families and children with social work and youth programmes where parents and children are supported to overcome barriers that allow them to reach their goals and see their whanau thriving.

"Pleroma's counselling service also includes working with couples and, as funded sessions for couples is rare now, it's very important to maintain this support," she said.

Lyn White, chairwoman of the Pleroma Trust Board, said it would be "business as usual", with Pleroma remaining in the same location and offering the same services, but with an "increased capacity for growth".

"Napier Family Centre brings economies of scale we could only dream of.

"As a board, we are very excited for the CHB community and the additional services this organisation will likely bring," she said.

Napier Family Centre has already had a 10-year presence in CHB through the provision of in-home Early Childhood Education by Bright Futures, based in Waipukurau, where educators are supported to achieve a Level-4 ECE qualification.

Napier Family Centre said it subsidised about $55,000 of free childcare hours a year to families in CHB, over and above the 20 free hours provided by the Government.